Be prepared. I keep a 3x5 card by the phone with all the information (like rate, what our day is like etc.) on it. Keep a smile in your voice. If a parent calls at all time when it is difficult for you to focus on them, it's OK to let them know you are interested, but you need to call them back shortly.

Exterior Appearance of the Provider's home and Surroundings:

Homes need to be in good repair and the yard area surrounding the homes need to have "Curb Appeal!" **Remember you can write off the expense of flowers and plants at tax time**

Child Care Provider's Grooming:

It is critical for the provider to groom and dress for child care success everyday. I don't think that means wear your best top and slacks, just be clean and neat. Wear a little makeup if anything else it will make you feel pretty.

Cleanliness of a Provider's home:

First impressions can make or break a business relationship. No matter how wonderful a provider is, if their home/center is not clean and organized, parents will be typically turned off.

Personal Interview Skills:

Parents often do not know exactly what they are searching for when they start looking for child care. Providers must know what they have to offer and be able to promote their program to parents.

Personal and General Home organization:

For Providers to really look and feel like they are professional in their business they need to be organized. No matter how great a provider is with children, if their business is in disarray, parent's will think they are not very professional or serious about their business.

Specific Organization of Child Care Space and Activities Offered:

Parents want to be sure their children will have enough organized activities and age appropriate toys to play with during the day. Having a separate area in your home for the day care children to play is also a plus.

Written Financial Policies and Agreements to Clarify the Provider's Services:

Providers need a written contract or agreement to be sure they have clarified rules and policies, which helps to eliminate misunderstandings with parents from the beginning.

Professionalism:

What is professionalism in child care? In short, it is the eagerness to constantly better ourselves. It is constantly updating training and skills, building new skills, and learning and sharing with fellow child care professional. Professionalism is constantly refreshing ourselves to offer our BEST!

Explain clearly and carefully your wishes and expectations about how your child will be cared for. Also provide updates on problems and progress that your child is making. Give the provider information about your child's routine, activities and preferences. Good communication helps parents and providers work together in the best interest of the children.

2.Agreement on terms or arrangements.

You should fully understand the expectations of the provider and what you as a parent are agreeing to.

3.Honesty and trust.

This includes being honest about how you believe the arrangement is working, whether your child is happy with the provider and whether you are. Although you need to be vigilant in order to safeguard your child, you should still trust your child care provider to do the best for your child.

4.Advance notice of and agreement to any changes.

Providers have to earn a living, too, so they deserve advance notice if you are going to stop using their services, take a vacation during which they will receive no pay.

5.Pick up on time and follow through on all agreements.

Providers have personal lives, too, and they should be able to expect that you will pick up your child at the agreed upon time. If it takes you 15 minutes a day longer to get home than you expected or if you find it more convenient to stop at the grocery store before picking up your child which makes you 30 minutes late three times a week you need to work out a new agreement with the provider or find a way to abide by the original one.

6. Sick children.

Agree with your child care provider in advance about when you can and cannot bring a sick child.

7.Payment on time.

Child care providers have to pay the rent and buy food, too, so make arrangements to see that they get their pay on time.

8.Respect.

Realize that taking care of children is a job and the child care provider is a worker, just as you are. A child care provider is not "just a baby sitter". She is one of the most important people in your child's life and in yours, too.

9.Jealousy.

Try not to be jealous of your child's attachment to child care providers. Children who spend hours every day with a day care worker come to love that person. That love, though, doesn't diminish the love the child feels for you. Don't feel that you have to compete with your child care provider for your child's affection. Be happy that they love and get loved in return.

10.No surprises.

Your Child Care Provider shouldn't learn on Friday that you have decided to take next week off from work, this is her livelihood and changes in her income should be given advance notice. Child care providers don't like surprises any better than parents do

A recent news article reporting on children and early childhood, shed new light as to the importance of early learning. The National Institutes of Health recent report focused on the behavior of young children in group care. Ten teams around the country are following over three thousand families from birth through second grade. Observations were made at both their home and in child care settings. The reviewed intervals were at six months, fifteen months, two years and three years of age.

The most current results from this research conclude that whether or not children are in child care during the day is far less important to their overall development than whether they have positive relations with their parents.

What that is saying, is that the healthy social, emotional and intellectual development of children is more dependent on a loving, stable home life than on the quality or quantity child care. However, the report went on to say that behavior of children in group care has been observed to be more positive than negative than when children are cared for along or with one or two other children. More cooperative natures were observed when children interacted with children in group care situations. The group care opportunity promotes sharing, patience, and learning how to take turns.

Many first time mothers are concerned about losing the bonding ability with their infant if that infant is left in a child care environment. The National Institutes of Health found that quality centers, that offer sensitivity and responsiveness by the teachers, promote a healthy development.

Parents are the decision makers as to the choices for children's care during the day. Checking out child care facilities, listening to the center director's information about the center, observing the facility and meeting the teachers, help parents make the right decision. If you do your homework you can rest assured that you've made the right decision!